Back-up Generators

[sjpthsuk]

Hi All
For some reason we have 3 phase power going to our house - don't ask me why as i wasn't aware when the Developer was building the house. This invariably loses a phase now and again, and leaves my missus a bit distraught at times.
Yesterday was one such incident - i'm working away in my office in the cooler climes of Far East Russia and i get the call, and sit and try and give advice from afar.
Last night i got to thinking that maybe having a back-up generator might be a solution, but not sure what size i'd need to run a 300m2 floor area house, swimming pool, etc., and if these are available in the Hua-Hin area?
Does anyone know?
Steve

[migrant]

I can't help with specifics, but when I lived in Maine there were lots of blackouts. Many people hooked up generators that would kick in automatically when the power went out.

Good Luck

[Whaler]

Last night i got to thinking that maybe having a back-up generator might be a solution, but not sure what size i'd need to run a 300m2 floor area house, swimming pool, etc., and if these are available in the Hua-Hin area?
Does anyone know?
Steve

I would not base it on floor area I would count up the appliance/power requirements your likely to use during a blackout and add 25-50% otherwise you may easily over spec and dont include non essentials just tell the Mrs she cant run the dishwasher etc

[Nereus]

It is possible to buy any size generator that you may need. But most of the smaller units are single phase, not 3 phase. You cannot just "plug in" a back up generator. It will need a substantial changeover switching system that is interlocked with the main supply, to avoid any fireworks.

If you are not there all the time it will also need an automatic starting system, along with a battery and charger. Capacity wise: it is not just the running amps, or kilowatts, that needs to be considered. Things like pumps and air cons draw substantially more current when starting, meaning that a bigger output than just the running amps of any load needs to be considered.

If it is always the same phase that keeps dropping out (ie the same lights or whatever goes off), then it may be worthwhile to rearrange some essential circuits to another phase.

Alternatively, it may well be cheaper to install some "emergency" lights, and maybe a couple of fans, on a completely separate circuit and just buy a small single phase generator dedicated to run them.

[STEVE G]

If it's only one phase that is going, I think it might be cheaper to concentrate on getting that problem repaired rather than installing a back-up generator.
I've never found the supply around the city to be that bad although it can be a different story out in the countryside.

[Nereus]

If it's only one phase that is going, I think it might be cheaper to concentrate on getting that problem repaired rather than installing a back-up generator.
I've never found the supply around the city to be that bad although it can be a different story out in the countryside.

Don`t quite see what you mean here ,Steve.? The Government supply does not have pole fuses where the feed goes into each individual consumer, so the owner really does not have control over what he is getting. Unless it is a very old building, it is unlikely to have fuses on his consumer distribution board, more likely some form of magnetic main breaker, which will trip all 3 phases off in the event of a load side problem.

It is not unusual to lose 1 phase off a 3 phase supply, and the problem is likely to be uneven loading across the 3 phases in the street, where the supply side does have individual phase protection.

The manner to which some of the overhead cabling is strung about, it surprises me that ANY of of it works!

[STEVE G]

Yes, I agree Nereus; I meant trying to get the electricity board to fix the supply which will obviously cost you money but perhaps considerably less than a full three phase back-up supply.

[PeteC]

....If it is always the same phase that keeps dropping out (ie the same lights or whatever goes off), then it may be worthwhile to rearrange some essential circuits to another phase.....

I experienced that at a 3 phase house in Pattaya. Thankfully it appeared to be the same phase all the time and only certain ceiling fans, aircons and light switches would go out, nothing critical like the fridge. Many times the phase wouldn't go all the way out, but just slow everything down. A 40W bulb would all of a sudden be 20W. Pete

[sjpthsuk]

It does seem like it is the same phase that goes down all the time, office area/wifi/security cameras/etc., the wife did call back later to say there was "light coming from the big box across the development" - this is the transformer the developer installed for the houses inside the development so he didn't have to hand over the road to the local authorities (that's what we were told). So i told her to get the people who look after the care/maintenance of the development to check and get it fixed - so i'm waiting to hear what happens...

Eventually, i hope to sell up where i am (nr Hin-Lek-Fai) and move further out into the countryside where i can hopefully develop a business, and a generator would be handy there. So my question had double purpose.